Railroad signal



F. A. MILLER RAILROAD SIGNAL July 16, 1929.

Filed June 15, 1927 :F 'I|E l A TTORNE YS Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED srzfrlazsA i i 'i 17,721,229

FRANK A. MILLER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-THIRD' TO SELF, p

ONE-THIRD TO HARRY A. MITCHELL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AND TO WALTER ARNSTEIN, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. Y

ONE-THIRD RAILROAD SIGNAL. c

Appiiatiomned rime 15,

, My inventionrelates to signals for use on railways and particularly refers to signals adapted to indicate to the engineer of a train whether or not intersection and crossing signals are operating. 7

It is now the custom toinstall automatic warning signals atv the intersection ofrailroad tracks and vehicular highways to lwarn vehicle operators of the approach of a train on the railroad track. These warning signals are generally bells or wigwags which alford a visual indication and in some instances an audible indication as well. Ordinarily, the crossing signals are operated during the presence of a train on the track adjacent the signal. This operation4 is accomplished yin a number of different ways and usually includes u the closing by a train on the track of anelectric circuit either between the two rails of 2o the track or, between the trolley wire of an electric line and the rails. Occasionally such ywarning signals become inoperative and no warning of the approach of a train is adorded 'at the intersection. The external appearance of the signal does Vnot indicate that it is out of order and persons such as vehicle drivers approaching the intersection and depending upon the signal are misled. The engineer of the approaching train has no way of telling. whether or not the signal is operating andV normally assumes that the signal is operative and that vehicle drivers have warning of the approach ofthe train and proceeds on the basis thatl the crossing is clear. therefore serious possibility of accidents when the warning signal at an intersection becomes inoperative. It is therefore an object of my invention to provide means for indicating to the engineer of an approaching train whether or not the warning signal at an intersection is operating.

Another object of lmy invention is to prop vide a plurality of such indicating signals operated Vso that the possibility of accidents is,

1.15 further lessened. l.

A further object of my invention is to provide an indicating means which is readily at- Vv tachable tothe crossing signals at present installed.

There is 1927. `seran No. 198,9s4. y

An additional object of invention is to provide rugged and dependable -ractuating means for the indicator. v 1 i My invention possesses other advantageous form of the railroad signal of .my.invention,

Vwhich I have selectedv for illustration in the drawings accompanying and formingpart.

of the'present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of railroad signalfembodying my invention, but it is to be under- Y stood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention as set forth in the lclaims maybe embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings: n, Q f

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a railroad and highway intersection disclosing the installation of v my railroad signal thereon. I

l Fig. Qshows in transverse` section a wigwag Warningrof a standard type withy the 1 electric contacts for the indicator installed therein.

` The railroad signalof my yinvention preferably comprises'an indicating signal actuat?4 .ed upon the approach of a train for indicating to the train engineer whether or not-the crossmg signal at the intersection is inoperation.

In the preferred form` of my invention as@ v disclosed in the accompanying drawings I have shown a track 6 comprisinga pair yof rails which extend across a highwayf? The railroad as illustrated'is'electric and isrprovided with a trolley -wire 8 for supplying electricity to a train passing along the track. At the intersection of the track 6 and highway 7 warning signals 9 are4 provided. These warninglsignals can be of any yof the standard 'tricity upon the approach thereto of a train. Each Warning signal is preferably a wigwag, as shown inFig. 2, comprising a housing 11 mounted on a suitable supportv k12/at one side of the highwayl and of they-,track 6. The housing Vencloses anl electric motor 13 conkinds but preferably are operated by, elecnected thru a pitman 14 to an oscillating banner 16. The electric motor is provided with two conductors 17 and 18, thelirst 'of'. which l y is connected to the trolley Wire 8 and the second of which is connected to the rails. Upon the approach to the signal 9 vof a train upon track 6, the motor 13 is energized and operates'to move thevbanner 16. The banner thereby gives warning to persons such as ve- 1 hicle operators on the highway 7 that a train l comprise posts on which suitable electric in- V f indicators while uponthe energization of paratively along'vlife land need practically- Aand 211in series. connected in parallel' andv in some installadicating vli'glits 'arezmountedq To render rvlights operative during 'the time the warning signals 9 are operating, I preferably provide 25,

them withV an electric circuit including a sourcebf electricity 22 connectedv by conductors23and 24- to all of the indicators 19 The indicators can also be tions the parallel connection vis preferred.

Controlling the circuit are a pair of contacts 26 and 27 actuated by one of the warning signals 9 and located within the casing 11 thereof. Normally, the contacts 26 and 27 are positioned to open the circuit ofthe motor 13, the oscillating banner 16 closes the4 indicator circuit. This is effected by a hammer 28 on one side of the banner lever 29 which forces contact 26 to touch contact 27 vvthereby insuring electrical communication.

I have found in operation that two Vspiral "springs 26 and 27 vare practically trouble proof and afford an electrical contact readily and without severe arcing. They have com- Vno attention.

Ifall ofthe units inthe railroad signalare "iiioperating condition, the approach of a train upon track 6 lirst energizesmotors 13 to operate the warning signals 16 while the indicators 19 'and 21 are then intermittently energized by the successive closing of contacts 26 yand 27 bythe associated oscillating bannerd16. The engineer of the approaching 'train when he is approximately' one thousand Vfeet from the intersection is informed by `the blinking light 21 that the speed of his train need not be' slackenedas suitable warning is positively being given to users of the highway 7. He continues toward the interi section and further notes when he is approxi- Y mately one hundredy feet therefrom by lookingv at indicator' 19 that the signal vis still in fact of said operation.

1,721,229 y F j y y .whether or not the warning signal9 isi functioning and can regulate his train accordingly.-V The possibility of accidents is considerably lessened and kthe possibility of inoperative warningsignals being neglectedis made remote. lVliile I havedescribed my railroad signal as it is applied'at a highway intersectioinit is equally useful in other environments as will readily appear.

Iclaim: "i

. 1. A railroad signal comprising a warning lsignal actuated upon the'approach of a train, and means intermittently'actuate'd upon the operation of said warningsignal for indicating to the engineer of said train theh 2. A railroad signal comprising a warning signal actuated upon the approach ofl a train, and an intermittentlyV operated indicator spaced from said signal inV the direction of approach of said train for indicating the operation of said warning signal.

3. A railroad signal comprising Va warning signal actuated upon the approach o'f'a train,

indicators spaced from said signal in the direction of approach of a train and' simultaneously indicating the operation of said ivarning'signal. l f

4. A railroad signal comprising a' warning signal actuated upon the approach of a train, a plurality of indicators, and means for intermittently actuating said indicators during the operation of said warningv signal. l`

5. A railroad signal comprising a warning signal actuated upon the approach of ya'train, an electric indicatorspaced from saidw'arning signal in the direction of approach of a train, an electric circuit for said indicator, and meanscontrolled by the operation ofsaid warning signal for intermittently .energizing said circuit. v Y A 6. A railroad signal comprising a'warning signal actuated upon the approach of a train, a plurality of electric lights spaced from each other and from said warningsignal-in the direction of approach of a train, a series' electric circuit for said lights, and means actuated by thel operation of said warning* signal for intermittently energizing said circuit.` 7. A railroad signal comprising a warn` ing signal includin, `r,k an electrically driven moving element an electric circuit for said warning signal', means including a train adjacent said warning signal for energizing land a plurality of intermittently voperated, p

said circuit, an electric indicator adjacent signal, an electric indicator for said element, said Warning signal, an electric circuit for and a pair of spiral springs actuated by said said indicator, and means actuated by said element for closing the circuit of said indi- 10 moving element for periodically energizing cator. said indicator circuit. In testimony whereof, I have hereuntoset 8. A railroad signal comprising an element my hand. y moved during the proximity of trains to said FRANK A. MILLER. 

